Transport Minister Sohpon Zarun has ordered Airports of Thailand to step up measures at Suvarnabhumi and other airports to prevent extortion scams, the bangkok Post reports. He said all embassies will be informed that if their citizens encounter this problem, they should file a complaint with the Transport Ministry. One British couple's claim will also be investigated and legal action will be taken against those found to have been involved in the scam, he said.


THE FOCUS on an extortion scam at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport broadened today as the BBC reported that instances of entrapment are more frequent than officials believe.

One case involving a British couple, Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, has received extensive media coverage.

A spokesperson for the British Embassy recently told Phuketwan ''We are unaware of any other British nationals claiming to have been falsely arrested at either Bangkok or Phuket airport.''

Phuketwan was told today that the case had been raised with Thai authorities.

However, BBC journalist Jonathan Head reported today that complaints to newspapers since the April incident was revealed ''make it clear that passengers are regularly detained at the airport for alleged shoplifting, and then made to pay middlemen to win their freedom.''

While the honesty of the British couple has been called into question, the larger issue appears to be not whether departing travellers accused of shoplifting are innocent or guilty, but whether they are being subjected to systematic extortion.

An Irish scientist has also told of being arrested at the airport and accused of stealing an inexpensive eyeliner.

The BBC reports that the Danish Embassy says one of its nationals was recently subjected to a ''very similar'' scam, which a Thai lawyer calls the ''zig-zag''.

In the care of an interpreter, a Sri Lankan national called Tony, who works part-time for the police, Ingram and Xi met with senior police and paid a large sum as ''bail.''

However,Tony told the BBC about half the 7500 pound sum was for bail, while the rest consisted of ''fees'' for the bail, for his work, and for a lawyer he says he consulted on their behalf.

The regional police commander, Colonel Teeradej Phanuphan, told the BBC that any arrangement between the couple and Tony was a private affair, which did not involve the police.

Colonel Teeradej said he will investigate any possible irregularities in the British couple's treatment.

A British Government travel warning about Thailand has recently been upgraded as follows:

''We receive regular reports of credit card fraud after shop employees have copied card details. You are advised not to lose sight of your credit card during transactions. You should also be careful to observe demarcation lines between shops and stalls, particularly in market areas and at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

''Taking items from one shop's area to another is likely to be treated by shop staff as suspected theft. You may be arrested by the police and asked to pay a substantial fine and/or face imprisonment.''

Many Phuket holidaymakers, especially those travelling to and from Europe, arrive and depart from Thailand via Bangkok.

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